Jason Day Claims First Greg Norman Medal

To say that Jason Day has had a good year is a gross understatement. He has capped a remarkable season by winning the inaugural Greg Norman Medal for Australia’s best-performing international golfer.

This is Jason Day’s second national award this year, after winning this year’s Don Award from the Australian Sports Hall of Fame in October, and comes on the back of his best year yet. Just this year, the twenty-eight year old Queenslander won five times on the US PGA Tour, and rose to the world’s number one ranking in September.

The Greg Norman Medal winner was determined based on annual success within the Australian and International stage including all professional tours such as the LPGA, ALPG, the Ladies European Tour, the American PGA Tour, and the European Tour. The PGA of Australia Executive Brian Thorburn said that the award would finally allow them to celebrate the international successes of their players.

“Australia’s athletes excel on the global sporting stage and in most sports we celebrate the success of our athletes on that stage. Whether it’s the Olympic Games, World Cups in Cricket, Soccer, the Rugby codes or Netball; or domestic sports such as the AFL, we recognize the champions who put Australia on that world stage and who excel in their chosen sport,” Thorburn said.

“Greg Norman was the obvious stand out choice to name this award after. A World Golf Hall of Famer, a life member of the PGA and a recipient of the Order of Australia, Greg Norman is synonymous with the highest levels of golfing achievement.”

“Not only was he number one for 331 weeks, a two time major winner and a winner 20 times on the PGA Tour, he also won 31 times on our own PGA Tour of Australasia and put Australian Golf on the world map. He has been a staunch supporter of the PGA of Australia and local golf for many years.”

Jason Day, a United States resident, was unable to attend the gala dinner held at the Royal Pines resort on the Gold Coast on Tuesday night, ahead of the Australian PGA Championships, but appeared via video link while his mother accepted the award personally on his behalf from Greg Norman.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to win the Greg Norman Medal, it caps off an amazing year,” said Jason Day. “I’d like to thank the PGA of Australia for launching this medal with Greg Norman and their support over the past ten years.”

Jason Day beat fellow front runners Adam Scott, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, Steven Bowditch, Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee and Rebecca Artis for what the PGA of Australia is hopefully will become the country’s most prestigious award.